Cluster feeding - sleeping

earthgirl · 11-05-2006, 06:32 PM

My client just called me about a breastfeeding question (I gave my opinion, but not being within my scope I referred her to ask an IBCLC, LLL & pediatrician).
She states that her baby boy, 11 days old, feeds for a long time during the day and very frequently. She has a hard time differentiating between feeding and sucking for comfort. Claims he doesn't show cues of rooting or fist sucking. Maybe she is just giving him the boob too much? She says she is just feeding on demand. Then he is sleeping 5 hours at night! A visiting nurse told her this is OK. Is it? I was always told 2 hours no longer than 3hours, and to wake them if you have to. I suggested to wake him at night to feed him, because maybe he is trying to make up for it during the day what isn't getting at night. He has a ped. appt on Tuesday, but from what she tells me his latch is good, and he has lots of poopy & wet diapers, and is very gassy. Any thoughts?

tianakaesha · 11-05-2006, 07:37 PM

I am not a breasfeeding counsellor or anything, but Tara would feed for over an hour before night sleep... sleep for 5-6 hours, and then feed for over an hour in the morning. I figured she was storing up first, then replenishing after. I was never told this was a bad thing....

Ceci · 11-05-2006, 07:43 PM

I am in no way a LC or breastfeeding conselot BUT my DD would also nurse a lot in the evening and then in the AM would eat a ton but she slept 5-6 hours at night, for which I was eternally grateful.

I know the rule about sleeping 2-3 hours, and I tell my clients this, but personally it did not make sense to me to wake a sleeping baby. When she was hungry, she woke up and let me know.

My only caveat would be if the baby was preemie or small

Stacie · 11-05-2006, 08:40 PM

SydneyDoula · 11-06-2006, 04:53 AM

Another one who has a longer feeder.....
Lulu can feed for up to 2hrs

in the evening then sleeping for 7-8hrs ...another feed then nods off for 4 hrs (blessed, I know!).
She has done this from day 1. It can be really tiring (and sore) feeding that long but the long sleeps more than make up for it!!!

Stacie · 11-06-2006, 05:35 AM

earthgirl · 11-06-2006, 07:18 AM

Thanks everyone. She is going to call LLL for some support. I just wasn't sure if sleeping that long was normal (my girls were complete opposite). They are 2 & 4 and still don't sleep through the night!

fearlessbirth · 11-06-2006, 09:58 AM

A midwife in town strongly suggests that babies are woken up every 2-3 hrs for feeding throughout the night, no matter what! So I took this to be the gospel (cause I do trust her and her opinions...) BUT my last client's baby would nurse practically non-stop from 11am-4pm, sleep, nurse from 9-11pm and sleep for a 5-6 hr stretch at night. Plenty of dirty diapers and a happy baby. I realized that they really CAN set their own schedules and as long as they are full and happy, go for it!

earthgirl · 11-06-2006, 11:08 AM

Update: she did speak with someone from LLL who told her it is Ok to go for long stretches at night, but should be woken during the day to feed. I guess he was sleeping for long durations in the day as well. She mentioned that often times babies will sleep a lot, especially if the birth was traumatic. I don't think the birth was particularly traumatic, but he was circumcised.....perhaps sleeping is his reactionary coping measure? JMO

DoulaYvonne · 11-06-2006, 01:10 PM

When asked questions similar to this one, I remind moms that LLL recommends 10-12 nursing sessions in a 24 hour period. That means that some babies will cluster feed and have a sleep period longer than the "recommended" time. Many baby's DO have a longer sleep period at night. Many baby's DO have day and night mixed up (in our eyes). Diaper output, especially BMs, is a better indicator of input. Watch the baby, not the clock.

sacredma · 11-06-2006, 01:18 PM

hi,
i just took the cappa lactation educator training, and learned that cluster feedings are totally normal. many babies will nurse a lot at a certain time of day and then sleep for 4 or 5 hours and this is ok.
some babies need to nurse more often as every womans milk storage capacity is different. you will notice some babies go longer periods inbetween feeds, its not about the amount of milk made, but how much is stored at one time. it seems that the baby is doing it's job to get the milk out and knows when and how often.
i think if the baby is gaining weight that is a good indicator that they are getting what they need

tianakaesha · 11-06-2006, 04:05 PM

I just remembered I had to keep waking Tara to feed in the beginning days (first week) because she was jaundiced, had a traumatic birth and was very sleepy... and I was advised to. it is always good to get proper advice from a professional

Stacie · 11-07-2006, 12:11 AM

Like mavis mentioned, every woman does store a different amount of milk. I joke during education classes that if a baby needs to nurse more often, it is really mom's fault -- baby is just taking what he/she needs from mom. Of course mom can't really help it either, but it would be more of a mom problem than a baby issue, lol.

Like Yvonne stated, bm's are important. Urine shows indication of hydration, whereas bm's show more caloric/fat intake.